I’ll begin by saying that I of course will not present an exhaustive list of the best books on writing. I’m going to list the best books I know of on writing, and would love to have people add onto said list in the comments. One thing about being a writer is that no matter how long you work on your craft, you are always competing against people who are older and have been at it much longer than you have. You can never stop improving if you want to stay in the game, and while there are a lot of ways to hone your craft, reading good books on writing is probably the cheapest way – in terms of money, at least. You still need to put in the time to apply what you learn. So here are the books that I recommend.
Wanderings on Writing by Jane Lindskold
I may be the first person to blog about this one, because it just came out. Some would say there’s no Golden Key, no magic word that you can learn to get yourself a writing career. Lindskold begs to differ. There is a Golden Key, the only catch is, you have to forge it yourself. So, while she can’t present you with a Golden Key, she can tell you how she forged hers. This book is a compilation of essays she’s written over the years on topics ranging from how to write a sympathetic villain to how to keep from driving your family insane as you pursue your dreams. The book is written in accessible, conversational prose. Once you pick it up, you may have trouble putting it down.
How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy by Orson Scott Card
Many of us know Orson Scott Card. His book How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy is just a great, basic guide. It’s a quick overview that you can read in an afternoon and mull over for the next ten years. For anyone trying to get their stories off the ground, I recommend that they start with this book. While it’s geared for science fiction and fantasy, it’s got a lot of gems for anyone who has issues of plotting and framing the story in any genre. However along with those, it lays out the common pitfalls people trip up on when they try to write speculative fiction. After you read it, you’ll find yourself wincing at many books and movies by people who really should have read this guide.
The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
Another solid, basic guide on mythic structure, which whether or not you use in your writing, is relevant to all speculative fiction. Even if you’re purposely subverting, perverting, or disregarding the Hero’s Journey structure, you’re still playing off the concepts. Again, this is one to get a good grasp on the basics and to learn the common forms used in plot and character development.
Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKee
What does a book on screenwriting have to do with novel and short story writing? Everything, and not just because there’s big money in selling the film rights to your novel. Films, with their tight time constraints and powerful cultural impact, provide excellent examples of how to plot, pace, and frame your story. Even if your style is ultimately very different and employs techniques other than what screenwriters use, this perspective on writing will only enhance your understanding of the process.
Zen and the Art of Writing: Essays on Creativity by Ray Bradbury
Bradley Denton first recommended this book to me. He claimed that after he read it, he just felt like writing. I have to agree; there’s something about this book that makes you want to sit down at your computer and just go. Bradbury had such an incredible energy in his prose, and it’s as if these essays dole it out to you bit by bit. He also tells the straight story about how it is to make a living as an author. Despite his fame and the fact that he wrote classics like Fahrenheit 451, he discusses how much writing he had to do and how many stories he had to sell to make a living. I usually read this one when I’m starting to get down on myself and my career.
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
I’ve found opinion very divided on this one. Half of the book is King telling his story about how it was he became a writer and what inspired him. The rest does lay out his advice on how to create clean prose and a well crafted novel, and his advice isn’t one size fits all. For example he states that the magic formula for cleaning up a rough draft is to reduce the word count by 10%. I didn’t start selling stories until I let my final drafts grow by 10%. Still, he shows how it is he writes a first draft and then line edits it. He explains the importance of getting emotional distance from a book before revising it. His explanation of writing with the door closed and then the door open is worth serious consideration, because I think a lot of writers stifle their work by exposing it to the world too early. Besides that, it’s an enjoyable read. I recommend it, but your mileage may vary.
Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
This one has a special place in my heart. I read it while I was at Clarion West, having my wits scared out of me on a daily basis. My class was so talented and I was so average in comparison. Not that I have a problem with being average, but I did wonder if I was wasting my time trying to become a writer. Goldberg’s essays talked me down from my moments of panic. In this book she talks about how average doesn’t have to mean mediocre, and how learning to write your words in your way produces stories worth reading.
All right, I’ve rambled on long enough. What books would you recommend?
Great list. There are several of these, like the Bradbury book, that I need to check out.
It’s not a whole book, but on writing fantasy, I like “The Flat-Heeled Muse” by Lloyd Alexander. Also, reading and listening to different writers at conventions, etc., talking about how they write. It gives you a good sense of the variety of techniques people use, and opens your mind up to new possibilities.
I LOVED Lloyd Alexander’s books as a kid. I’ll have to check that one out!
It’s not for every writer, and makes for dense reading, but I really like About Writing: Seven Essays, Four Letters, & Five Interviews by Samuel R. Delaney.
I also think that On Becoming a Novelist by John Gardner is required reading, although it’s not really a self-help book and you have to take a lot of what he claims as truisms with a grain of salt.
And finally, Annie Dillard’s The Writing Life is a good book to read and return to every so often. Dillard is too precious and too mystic about writing, but it’s value is in providing metaphors and images that are useful to think about in relation to writing.
Thanks so much for the additions! Awesome 🙂
A nice list. Thanks!
Personally, I’ve found IN QUEST OF THE HERO by Otto Rank and Lord Raglan a better resource than Campbell’s derivation, but that’s a personal thing. 🙂
My additions to the list would include:
• WRITING THE NOVEL by Lawrence Block
• CREATING SHORT FICTION by Damon Knight
and John Gardner’s other how-to-write book
• THE ART OF FICTION: NOTES ON CRAFT FOR YOUNG WRITERS by John Gardner
Also, my writing friends swear by BIRD BY BIRD by Anne Lamott but I’ve not read it myself.
I haven’t even heard of the Anne Lamott one. Thanks for the recs!